Healthy Shoulder Habits To Practice

In my practice, I see a lot of patients with shoulder injuries. And, while many people think joint problems are limited to aggressive athletes and older adults, the fact is that almost everyone will experience some kind of shoulder issue in their lifetime.

Did you know that shoulders are one of the most commonly injured joints in the body? The unique and complex anatomy of the shoulder make it the joint with the greatest range of motion; but, also the joint with the least stability. This can make the shoulder more vulnerable to injury and aging than other joints.

How can you help protect your shoulder from injury? Here are five different healthy shoulder habits that you can start practicing today:

• Always work to maintain good posture. I know it’s not easy- but here’s a link to an article from The Cleveland Clinic on back health and posture: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/4485-back-health–posture
• Avoid excessive and repetitive use of your shoulders
• When sitting at work, take frequent breaks to move around.
• Don’t put undue stress on the shoulders with heavy knapsacks or bags.
• Warm up before exercising- paying specific attention to stretching before and after your workout.

And remember, many shoulder injuries are highly treatable if addressed early. The earlier you see a doctor, the more conservative therapies, such as physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medications, can help.

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